Cutter



United States Patent() 3,167,515 Patented June 8, 1965 ICC These and other objects more apparent hereinafterare accomplished by the cutter embodying the features of the "present invention, said cutter being adapted to assure aci In photocomposition-type printing, galley pages containing the printed matter are produced by printing, photoproduction or other similar methods. The lines ot type, individual word-s, letters, ligures and other printed matter so produced must then be cut from the galley page and pasted on a paper or other suitable backing means to form a make-up page. In this type of printingthe make-up page simulates the ultimate page which itis desired to print, as the make-up page is photographed and the printing plate for the page made from this photograph. In preparing the make-up page each line of type or printed character must be precisely positioned thereon, as the make-up page becomes, in effect, the page as it Will appear when printed.

In many instances, particularly in preparing pages of advertising, there are many individual lines of type which must be properly positioned on the make-up page, and each line of type must be cut from the galley page. Furthermore, this type may be extremely small and therefore have a height of three-eighths of an inch or less. Generally speaking, in positioning these small pieces of printed matter on the make-up page, the make-up editor will rely upon the bottom edge of each piece of printed matter. Therefore, cutting the printed matter from the galley page is extremely important as it will aiect the position of the printed matter on the make-up page and, therefore, on the nal printed page.

The cutting operation is further complicated by the fact that the galley pages often have an adhesive backing of wax or other suitable material so that the printed matter cut therefrom will adhere to the make-up page without the need for paste and the like. In the past principally razors and `scissors have been relied upon to cut the lines of type and other printed matter from the galley pages. Downwardly swinging, guillotine-type paper cutters have not been practical sincethe galley pages cannot be properly aligned with the cutting edges of this type of cutter to insure accurate cutting of the printed matter. In addition, if the paper has an adhesive backing, the pressure of the guillotine-type blade on the top of the galley page will cause it to stick to the cutter table. This, of course, is undesirable and makes it extremely difticult to move the galley page for the next cut.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cutter for paper and the like wherein an accurate, predetermined cut of the paper may be effected.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cutter for paper and the like, said cutter being adapted to afford proper alignment ofthe paper to assure a cut where desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cutter wherein paper and the like having an adhesive backing may be cut without the paper adhering to the cutter table. y

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a cutter for paper and the like wherein the paper may be properly aligned with respect to the cutting edges and continuously advanced so that the paper may be cut into a series of thin strips.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a cutter for paper and the like, said cutter being adapted to provide visual alignment of the paper so that any desired cut may be achieved.

curate alignment of the paper with respect to the cutting edges in order that the desired cut may be achieved. The cutter is further Vadapted to advancethe paper toward the cutting edges for cutting any desired width of` paper. In addition, the cutter will cut paper and the like having an adhesive backing without causing the paper to adhere to the cutting table or disrupt advancement of the pape toward the cutting edges. Y

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, taken with further objects and advantages thereof, will be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE lis a perspective view of a cutter embodying the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of the cutter of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the cutter of FIGURE 1 taken along line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary end view of the cutter of FIGURE 1 taken along line 4 4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the cutter of FlGURE l taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 2; and

FGURE 6 is a perspective View of the clamping means associated with the cutter of FIGURE l.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE l, a cutter embodying the features of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 1). The cutter includes a table, indicated generally by reference numeral 12, on which the paper or other material to be cut is placed. An advancing and clamping means, indicated generally by reference numeral 14, is adapted to advance the paper which is cut by the upward movement of a pivotally mounted cutting knife indicated generally by reference numeral 16.

Considering the cutter 10 in greater detail, reference is made to FIGURES l, 2 and 4. The table 12 is mounted upon a base 18, in this instance is an I-beam, and includes two channel-shaped members 2t? and 22 which are secured to the base 18. To these ends brackets 24 and 26 are provided and are positioned beneath the channelshaped members 2i) and 22, respectively. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, one end of the brackets 24 and 26 is secured to the I-beam base 1S by means of nut and bolt combinations 28 and 39, respectively, while the other end ot each bracket 24 and 26 is secured to downwardly extending flanges of the channel-shaped members 2i) and 22, respectively, by bolts or screws 32 and 34, respectively (FIGURE 2). Additional support is provided at the front end of the channel-shaped members Ztl and 22 by screws 36 and 38, respectively, which extend through spacers dil and 42, respectively, to threadedly engage the I-beam base 18. In this manner the channel-shaped members 2i) and 22, which are spaced from one another, provide a stationary table for the paper and other materials being cut in the cutter 10.

It will be understood that the table 12 may be constructed of metallic material, as in this instance, or of wood or of any other suitable material. It will be further understood that various base means may be employed, the particular base means utilized in the cutter 1li not constituting a part of the present invention.

Fixedly mounted at one end of the table 12, in abutting position with the channel-shaped members 2t) and 22 is a cutter supporting means 44 which is iixedly secured t0 the I-beam 18 by means of screws 46 and d8 or the like which extend through holes (not shown) in the cutter supporting means 44 and in spacers 50 and 52, respectively,

to threadedly engage the I-bearn base f3. As will be seen in FIGURE 3, the upper surface d of the cutter supporting means ad is co-planar with the top of the table l2.

Attached to the cutter supporting means 44 by screws 56 and S8 (FIGURE 2) is a guide means 60. The guide vmeans ed has an elongate groove extending therethrough which forms with the cutter supporting means la a slot 62 alst/,ete

through which the paper to be lcut passes as it approaches the cutter as shown in FIGURE 5. Theguide means dll has a cutting edge 64 which, as will be more apparent hereinafter, cooperateswith the cutting knife lo to cut the paper and serves as a guide means for properly aligning the paper prior to its being cut. Y

The cutting knife lle is pivotally attached to an end of the cutter support means` t4 by a recessed screw 66 having a head member de. The screw ed extends through a hole .67 in the cutting knife le and threadedly engages the cutter support means M. le may be pivotedabout the screw 65 to move upwardly to effect cutting of the paper as it extends outwardly from the slot 62 formed by the guide means 69 and the cutter supporting means 44 as shown in FIGURE 5. To these ends the cutting knife f6 includes a cutting blade 7d having a cutting edge 72. The cutting knife 16 has a handle '74 attached to the free end of the blade 79. The handle 74 is used to .pivot thc cutting knife lo upwardly to effect cutting of the paper. A downwardly extending L-shaped bracket 76 is attached to the cutter support means 44 by a screw 73 and guides the cutting knife lr6 as it swings upwardly to cut the paper. Y

The paper having been placed upon the table 12 is advanced, in a manner more apparent hereinafter, into the slot 62 so that it extends outwardly therefrom whereby upward movement of the knife le causes the cutting edge 72 of the blade 7@ to cooperate with the cutting edge dtto effect the shearing or, cutting of the paper. The guide means 64 is used to align the paper before it is cut in a manner more apparent hereinafter. Y

Fixedly secured to the I-beam base 18 between the channel members 2@ and 22 is a runner Si) which is perpendicular to the guide means 69 and the cutting knife 16. The runner 89 is iixedly secured to the I-beam base f3 by screws 82 or the like which extend through spacers 84 (FIGURE 4) and threadedly engage the base 18 to secure the runner Si) in spaced relationship above the I-beam base 1S. The runner Sil has a rack de extending along the entire length of one of its sides. The rack S6 is utilized to cooperate with the advancing and clamping means 14 whereby it will move toward and away from the guide means 60 to advance the paper through the slot 62.

The advancing and clamping means includes a guide member S3 which slidingly engages the runner gli and is held thereon by a screw 90 which overlaps the bottom of the runner Sil as seen in FIGURE 4. The guide member 88 includes a rotatable shaft 94 having a knobV 92 ixedly secured to one end thereof and a pinion 96 ixedly secured to the other end thereof. The pinion 96 cooperates with the rack 86 of the runner 80. Upon rotation of the knob 92, the shaft 94 and pinion 96 will rotate causing the advancing and clamping means 18 to advance toward or away from the cutting blade i6 as desired by virtue of the cooperation between the pinion 96 and the rack 86. The paper is held in place by a clamping means including a base member 97 xedly secured to the guide member SS Vby screws 93 or the like. Pivotally attached to the base member 96 throughva hinge-type arrangement i490 or other suitable means is a pivotable member 192 having a magnet 104 iixedly secured thereto by suitable means not shown. The base member 97 is made of magnetizable material, such as iron or the like, so that the magnet 194 is attracted to the base 97 when-in close proximity thereto. The pivotal member 102 has a handle 1% for pivoting the member 102, and, in addition, has inwardly extending, pointed gripping members S to hold the paper or the like placed in the clamping means. The runner Sli in this manner the cutting knife y l has a stop Mu, such as a screw or the like, secured to its end to prevent the advancing and clamping means 14 from falling off the runner dll.

The paper to be cut has one end thereof placed into the slot 62 between the guide means e@ and the cutter support means and is then properly aligned by employing the guide surface ed of the guide means eti. In this manner, if there is a row of printed type to be cut from the paper, the bottom edge of the printed line is properly aligned with the guide surface 64 visually by the operator as he looks down on the cutter. When the proper alignment has been obtained', the other end of the paper is placed in the clamping means M by opening the member Y 62, placing the other end of the paper therein, and pivoting the member Z downwardly until it is held in position by virtue of the magnet lltllfl being attracted to the base member 96. The pointed gripping members lili; engage the paper in the clamping means 14 and prevent the paper from moving. The first cut is then eifected by lifting the cutting knife le upwardly whereby the cutting edges 732 and 64 cooperate with one another to shear and cut the paper. After .this cut the paper is then advanced by rotating Vthe knob 92 to move the clamping means i4 and therefore the paper toward the right when viewing FIGURE 2 in order that the paper extends outwardly from the slot d2 the desired width to be cut. if the printed lines on the paper are aligned with respect to one another, after the initial alignment `procedure all'subsequent cuts will also produce a properly aligned bottom cut.

Should the paper have a wax-backing or other type of adhesive backing, the adhesive backing will rest on the table l2 as the printing will face upwardly for alignment purposes. VSuch adhesive backings require, of course, some pressure on the paper before it will adhere to a surface. in .the cutter lil embodying the features of the present invention there is nofdownward pressure being applied to the paper and therefore it will still slide forward or backward upon'the table l2 of the cutter l@ as desired. When the cutting knife 16 is pivoted upwardly during cutting, the pressure of the cutting blade 7l), and particularly the cutting edge 72, on the underside of the paperwill cause the cut piece of paper .to adhere to the edge '72 of the cutting knife 16. In this manner the cut pieces of paper will adhere to the cutting knife and may be removed therefrom by hand. This is advantageous particularly when very small slivers of paper are being cut which is necessitated when the printing is extremely small. These small strips of paper would otherwise be easily lost or blown away if they did not adhere to the cutting edge 72 of the cutting blade '70.

The table is provided with a guide means 112 suitably secured by screws M4 or the like to the channel member 22 in a position perpendicular to the cutting knife 16 and the guiding surface 64. of the guide means et). This guide member M2 may be employedV when a sufficiently large sheet of paper is to be cut and it is desired to cutv oif pieces having a right angle.

The base 18 has attached thereto a stop 120 (FIGURE 1) upon which the cutting knife 16 rests when it is not 1n use.

It will be understood that the cutter support member 60 and the cutter blade 70 are made of suitable metallic material, such as tool steel or the like. Though the cutter 10 has been discussed in detail with respect to cutting paper it will be understood that other materials may be cut or trimmed by the cutter 10, e.g., sheet plastics, cardboard and the like. Furthermore, the metal materials from which the guide means 60 and the cutting blade 70 are to be made will, of course, depend to a certain extent upon the use to which the cutter 10 will be subjected as will be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art.

While the embodiment described herein isgat present considered to be preferred, it will be understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modications and improvements as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A cutter for paper and the like which comprises a table, a stationary guide means mounted at one end of said table under which said paper passes, said guide means having a cutting and guiding edge, said guiding edge adapted for aligning said paper as desired, a cutting knife pivotally associated with said guide means, said cutting knife being pivotable upwardly to cooperate with said guiding and cutting edge of said guide means to cut said paper when said paper extends outwardly beyond said guiding edge, and advancing and clamping means mounted upon an elongated runner extending srazstantially perpendicular to said cutting knife, said advancing and clamping means including a guiding means slidably mounted on said runner, means to move said guiding means along said runner away from and toward said cutting knife, and means to secure said paper to said guide means.

2. The cutter of claim 1 wherein said clamping means includes two pivotally attached members, one of said members being secured to said guide means, a magnet means attached to one of said members, said magnet means holding said pivotal members in position to securely hold said paper.

3. The cutter of claim 2 wherein one of said members has means attached thereto which grip said paper to prevent it from moving when said members are closed.

4. The cutter of claim 3 wherein said means to move said guiding means includes a pivotally mounted shaft having a pinion xedly secured thereto and said runner has a rack cooperating with said pinion whereby rotation of said shaft moves said guiding means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,029,346 6/ 12 De Laney 83--611 2,515,354 7/50 Osborne 83-277 2,579,750 12/51 Merwin 83-578 2,779,409 1/57 Becker 83-608 FOREIGN PATENTS 515,433 12/ 30 Germany.

8,707 6/ 15 Great Britain.

ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

HUNTER C. BOURNE, JR., Examiner. 

1. A CUTTER FOR PAPER AND THE LIKE WHICH COMPRISES A TABLE, A STATIONARY GUIDE MEANS MOUNTED AT ONE END OF SAID TABLE UNDER WHICH SAID PAPER PASSES, SAID GUIDE MEANS HAVING A CUTTING AND GUIDING EDGE, SAID GUIDING EDGE ADAPTED FOR ALIGNING SAID PAPER AS DESIRED, A CUTTING KNIFE PIVOTALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID GUIDE MEANS, SAID CUTTING KNIFE BEING PIVOTABLE UPWARDLY TO COOPERATE WITH SAID GUIDING AND CUTTING EDGE OF SAID GUIDE MEANS TO CUT SAID PAPER WHEN SAID PAPER EXTENDS OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID GUIDING EDGE, AND ADVANCING AND CLAMPING MEANS MOUNTED UPON AN ELONGATED RUNNER EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID CUTTING KNIFE, SAID ADVANCING AND CLAMPING MEANS INCLUDING A GUIDING MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID RUNNER, MEANS TO MOVE SAID GUIDING MEANS ALONG SAID RUNNER AWAY FROM AND TOWARD SAID CUTTING KNIFE, AND MEANS TO SECURE SAID PAPER TO SAID GUIDE MEANS. 